Thursday, July 16, 2015

Near the end of September, the brass asked Schaff if he’d mind
becoming the One-One, or assistant team leader. The brass wanted to put
an overweight Special Forces sergeant from Germany who had a previous
tour of duty with a Green Beret A-Team, but no experience in Laos, in
the One-Zero slot simply because he had more rank. Schaff objected. He
was quietly removed from the team and the senior SF Sergeant took
command.

At that time, FOB 1 teams were being pushed hard to get on the
ground. Thus, there was little or no time for social niceties. More
important, with the new One-Zero, there was no dress rehearsal. No
practice mission. And he had little or no respect for ST Alabama’s
Vietnamese team members. He dismissed veteran SOG recon sergeants who
tried to offer him advice about running missions across the fence. Among
those who tried to talk to him were Spider Parks and Pat Watkins. Both
were experienced One-Zeroes; both had been to Laos and both were
respected SOG members at FOB 1.

When asked later about the team leader,
Spider simply said he had shunned experienced counsel.”

The brass assigned ST Alabama to run a target just southwest of the A
Shau Valley. Black, unaware of Schaff’s earlier discussions with the
brass, was introduced to the new One-Zero and they were ordered to fly a
visual reconnaissance over the target. Lynne M. Black Jr., posing at the range in Phu Bai. Notehis unique vest, which he designed and a few others duplicated.(John S. Meyer photo)
VRs were flown as close to the launch date as possible and usually in a
small, single-engine observation aircraft flown by two Vietnamese
pilots. In this case, the VR was a day or two before the target launch
date of 5 October 1968. Black and the new One-Zero flew in the rear seat
of the small aircraft. The primary and secondary landing zones had been
selected when the aircraft was hit by 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.

Suddenly the cabin was sprayed with blood. A 12.7mm round had ripped
through the floor, struck the co-pilot under the chin, hitting with such
force that his helmet slammed against the ceiling and ricocheted into
Black’s lap – still containing part of the co-pilot’s bloody head.

That memorable line comes from James Mitchner’s Korean War novel, The Bridges of Toko-Ri.
It refers to intrepid aviators lifting from a carrier, flying into
untold danger. They know they may not return. They launch anyway. In
boldness unfathomable to many, they willingly, artfully fly into peril.
They are warriors, men of rare talent, intellect, and courage – a
combination essential for victory.

Needed
warriors are now being purged from the U.S. military. If America went
to war right now with China or Russia, we could lose because of these
purges. We’re losing top-level warrior-leaders to make the crucial
differences in battle. They’re being systematically drummed out as
politically incorrect. When the going gets tough, political correctness
(PC) is useless. Then the brilliant, wily fighters, the coolest heads,
the most courageous warriors, are needed to lead regardless of social
views or record.

Today,
in large measure, our fighting forces are led by briefcase-carrying
busybodies, yes-men more interested in enforcing political beliefs and
social change than leading in battle. They care more about their
careers than what’s happening to the military and thus the country.
Just last week, a new downsizing of the army was announced – without a
protest.

In 2012, the dependency index increased by 23 percent
under the Obama administration. At the time, it meant 67 million
Americans were on some sort of federal subsistence program. Of course,
Americans who fall on hard times deserve to be caught by some sort of
social safety net. As American Enterprise Institute’s Arthur Brooks said
in May, the social safety net is a triumph of the free enterprise system. It's
a system that creates so much wealth that a portion can be invested in
helping the truly destitute. Brooks noted that Ronald Reagan and
Friedrich Hayek agreed. But it was never meant to be subjected to the
abuse that we’ve seen over the past few years. Started in the 1970s, the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has just become
another vehicle for the political left to increase dependency and
further their agenda.

In recent days I have continued to observe as the theological and
political left continues to orchestrate its assault against anything and
everything Confederate. Some of their suggestions really swing to the
loony side and some of their writers literally froth at the mouth. Their
hatred of anything Southern or Confederate is really intense and
unremitting. These people are not about to cease and desist. They see,
at this point, a very real possibility of destroying Southern and
Christian culture in the South and they want to be in for the kill! Most
Southern folks don’t begin to grasp this. They need to.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence,” said President
Calvin Coolidge, and Judicial Watch continues to prove it, much to
Hillary Clinton’s consternation.

Judicial Watch now has information about an email directly tying
Clinton, for the first time, to the now-debunked Benghazi talking points
used by then-U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to claim the attack was the
result of a “spontaneous protest” gone awry.

Showing contempt for transparency, the Obama State Department is refusing to divulge the contents of the email.

Goosed into action by an angry federal judge, federal immigration
authorities will go door-to-door demanding illegal immigrants return the
three-year amnesty approvals the Obama administration issued to them in defiance of a court order.

Those
who don’t return their three-year permits will have them terminated at
the end of this month, the National Immigrant Justice Center, one of the
advocacy groups briefed on authorities’ plan, said in a statement
preparing immigrants for what could be a traumatic encounter.

The rise of Donald Trump in the polls and the enthusiasm for his
campaign among the Republican base has confused and panicked the
mainstream media and the GOP Establishment. In an attempt to slow his
momentum, both have reacted by bringing up evidence from his past that
Trump is not a cookie-cutter conservative, which seem so far to roll off
his back and even rally his supporters who see it as evidence that his
detractors are desperate. Is Trump pro-life or pro-choice? Is he pro-gun
or pro-gun control? Is he anti-amnesty or pro-amnesty? Does he really
want Oprah to be his running mate? Did he give more money to Democrats?
None of this should surprise anyone who has followed Trump’s politics
over the years.

Trump is confusing the Powers That Be and the commentariate because
he does not neatly fall into one of the two tidy dichotomous ideological
boxes that “serious” partisan candidates are supposed to conform to.
Trump is not primarily an ideological candidate. He is at his most basic
an economic nationalist and a patriot who loves his country and wants
to see it thrive, hence his campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

Confederate battle flags greeted President Barack Obama as he arrived here for an overnight stay on Wednesday.

Across
the street from his hotel in downtown Oklahoma City, as many as 10
people waved the flags as his motorcade arrived. The group stood among a
larger group of demonstrators, many of them there to support the
president, who is in town ahead of a visit to a federal prison on
Thursday as part of his weeklong push on criminal justice issues.

According to local news organizations, a man named Andrew Duncomb, who calls himself the “black rebel,” organized the Confederate flag demonstration. He also put together a similar protest
on Saturday at the Oklahoma State Capitol — just a day after South
Carolina removed its contested flag from the State Capitol grounds. His Facebook page features photos from that rally.

Remembrance

Execution of Colonel Ho Ngoc CanLast words: "If I won the war, I would not condemn you as you have condemned me.I would not humiliate you as you have humiliated me.I would not ask you questions that you asked me.I fought for the freedom of my people.I have merit and I am not guilty.No one can convict me.History will criticize you as my Communist enemy.You want to kill me, then kill me.Do not blindfold me.Down with the Communists.Long live the Republic of Viet Nam !"

Colonel CraigMandeville:

“They wanted the people to see that he was dead,” said Craig Mandeville, an American adviser to the South Vietnamese army who fought side by side with Can. “He was believed to be some sort of invincible guy. The North Vietnamese thought that, too, and I even thought that when I fought with him.”

“He said, ‘OK, the country’s fallen, but by God we’re still South Vietnamese and we’re free,’ ” Mandeville recalled. “So he went down to Chuong Tien province and rounded up all these soldiers down there to form a Free Vietnam.”

Col. Can didn’t live long after that, but the legacy of his struggle lives on.

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Core Creek Militia

==============================My sixth great grandfather, his wife, and five of his six children were killed in battle with the Tuscarora Indians at Core Creek, NC.

The Seven Blackbirds

==============================My third great grandfather was an Ensign in the Revolutionary War, and saved his unit's flag after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He was also at Kingston (Kinston), Wilmington, Charleston, Two Sisters and Augusta. He was at the defeat at Brier Creek and also Bee Creek.

Requiem Aeternam -
Eternal Rest Grant unto Them
==============================
My second great grandfather was killed in action on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
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My great grandfather and great uncle knew all the men in the "Civil War Requiem" video as they were part of the 53rd NC which was the sole unit defending Fort Mahone. (Fort Mahone was named "Fort Damnation" by the Yankees) *Handpicked men of the 53rd (My great grandfather was one of these) made the final, night assault at Petersburg in an attempt to break Grant's line. This was against Fort Stedman which was a few miles to the slight northeast. They initially succeeded, but reinforcements drove them back. This video is made from photographs which were taken the day after the 53rd evacuated the lines the night before to begin the retreat to Appomattox. I have many more pictures taken by the same photographer, one of these shows a 14 year old boy and the other is the famous picture of the blond, handsome soldier with his musket.
===========================
*General Gordon promised the men a gold medal and 30 days leave if they accomplished their task and many years after the War my great grandfather wrote General Gordon, who was then governor of Georgia about this incident. They exchanged several letters which I have framed. See first link below.
===========================
*The Attack On Fort Stedman
============================
"His Colored Friends"
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Lee's Surrender
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My Black NC Kinfolks
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Punished For Being Caught!

Great Grandfather Koonce

He was a drummer boy in the WBTS, survived the War only to die a few years later. He was caught in an ice storm on his way home, but instead of seeking shelter, continued on his horse until the end. His clothes had to be cut off and he died a few days later.

Thank you

I would just like you to know how so very glad I am that I found your blog. I have learned more history from you and the many links that you post than I have from reading all my history books. I can never thank you enough for the education you are freely giving me. It is priceless. And eye opening.

Many times I will not comment, but that does not mean I am not reading and learning.

You sir, are an educator. Thank you.

PhyllisWantage, NJ

Good morning Mr. Townsend,

Just to let you know I have finally finished that massive tome on General Lee. I never knew 1/10th of what a great man he was. No wonder the South is so proud of him! So sad that we have few men of his caliber today. We need them desperately. I have learned more history through you and your blog than I thought I could ever learn. I am very grateful to you. Thank you so much for taking time to answer my e-mail. And thank you for your blog and for opening my eyes.

PhyllisWantage, NJ

".......So good to hear from you! And also so pleased you are converting more of us Yankees! You have no idea how many people you have taug